If we want to improve student learning, we really should focus on making sure faculty have what they need to support their teaching endeavors. A new program at Moraine Park has been designed to do just that!

The 2016-2017 academic year has been the inaugural year of the Moraine Park Technical College Teaching Fellows Programs. In this program, faculty have spent the year sharing teaching experiencing, gaining knowledge related to learner-center teaching approaches, fostering innovative teaching practices in a collaborative environment, and just generally been a part of a supportive environment in which to explore new teaching strategies.

Eight faculty across the college were selected to participate in this program and faculty from all across the College are participating! Faculty fellows represent the following Programs and Departments: Surgical Technology, IT-Tech Support Specialist, Communication, Human Resources, Process Engineering Technology, Water Quality Technology, Basic Education & English Language Learning, and Science. The fellows have discussed books related to teaching and learning, such as one of their favorites: Why Don’t Students Like School? A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions about How the Mind Works and What it Means for the Classroom. (Willingham, 2009).

They have observed each other’s classrooms, an activity that introduces them to new teaching methodologies and allows them the opportunity to reflect on their own teaching in the classroom. Importantly, the fellows each explored a teaching-related question that came from their own experiences in the classroom.

On May 12, 2017, they will briefly present their findings from their research related to the question they asked at a Teaching Fellows Celebration Luncheon. They are proud of what they’ve accomplished this semester and are anxious to share it with the College! Stay tuned to hear from some of our faculty fellows who will be highlight their work that will be presented in mid-May!